Blind In a Sense

Author's Note: I'm revising my first chapter because I was so. freaking. mad. at. it. So here's the new and improved version! It's not that different; I just cleaned it up. So here.

Rated T for Terrific. Title will not change, thank you.

Now please enjoy.

Chapter 1

Atem was livid. Enough was enough. He was sick and tired of these suitors. Day in and day out, his father, the Pharaoh, forced him to sit in court as he had women prance in and out on fine platters like they were dinner entrées. They flaunted themselves, tried to seduce him, and did everything in their power to try and win him over.

But Atem didn't care.

At first, he gave each woman the benefit of the doubt. He would spend time with them and learn about them. But eventually, each woman turned out to be the same thing; a heartless creature who only offered herself to gain money or power. Or money and power. Some even wanted to marry him just because of his attractiveness. That was the worst of all. Atem hated it.

It was a steaming hot summer day. In the court, servants fanned the Pharaoh and the Crown Prince fervently as they were brought young girls of beauty and wealth.

"How about this one?" Pharaoh Akunumkanon asked after each girl just as always.

Prince Atem didn't care anymore. He didn't give any girl grace. He would always flick his wrist to say 'not interested'. And that is what he did after the latest girl as well.

His senses had always deceived him before. A girl would seem attractive and kind, but they were all after the same thing. He had decided to give up, to give no girl a chance. But his father wouldn't hear of it and forced him to stay, praying he would give someone a chance.

And his prayers were about to be answered.

Suddenly, the courtroom doors burst open.

"Let me go!" a voice rang through the palace. It sounded like the voice of a very young girl who had lost all hope. The tone was strong, yet broken like a young filly born into stable of working horses; it knew it was doomed to a life of servitude, but it hadn't completely surrendered yet.

The girl came into view, dragged in by two guards. She was quite pale but was dressed in Egyptian attire. Her tri-colored hair made her look like she could be related to the Prince, but instead of extending out in long streaks, it was lied down, blonde bangs matching the Prince's. She looked no older than twelve if even that. Her eyes were unseen then. As she was being dragged in, they were shut, shielding her soul's true feelings.

"Who is this? And why is she interrupting our court?" the Pharaoh questioned, standing up from his throne angrily.

The two guards continued to drag the young girl into the center of the room and forced her bow as they did.

One of the two men looked up and explained, "This is one of your suitors, Your Highness. She refused to come to your court, because her parents just died in a horrible accident and she was grieving."

Prince Atem, who was bored until this last second, instantly gave attention, taking his head off its perch on his hand.

The Pharaoh inquired the girl, "Why did you do this?"

The girl, her eyes closed until that very moment, opened. They were a deep purple, beautiful and shining. But the centers where her dark pupils should have been were cloudy, like silver veil of mist.

She whispered in a quivering but audible voice, "I mean no respect, Pharaoh Akunumkanon, but I wish to go home. My parents have been killed, which means I am no longer needed at your court."

"Explain," the Pharaoh commanded, sitting once again.

The girl seemed to look off into space as she clarified, "Once my parents died, my riches transferred to my older brother. I can no longer give the Prince anything of value."

"Announce your name and age please," the Pharaoh commanded much softer than earlier.

The girl still seemed to look past the royals as she reported, "I am Yugi. My official title is Lady Yugi of the Motou family. I am seventeen years old, nearing my eighteenth birthday."

Atem was getting frustrated at the girl's lack of eye contact and demanded quite angrily, "Look my father in the eye, girl!"

"You must tell me where he is located first, Prince," came her quiet reply.

"Why is that?" the Pharaoh inquired.

"I am blind, Your Highness. I have been since birth. Surely a now poor, blind girl is not whom you want by the side of the Crown Prince of Egypt," she answered with some new strength, gulping before she continued, "I humbly ask to be sent back home. I am obviously no longer of any use to you or the prosperous kingdom of Egypt."

The Pharaoh began to mull this over.

But Atem wasn't about to let this happen. A plan was forming in his mind, one wonderful and new that gave him hope.

He spoke for his father, announcing, "I can't allow this. I wish for Lady Yugi to be given a room to stay in near my chambers in the palace."

Yugi cast her clouded gaze towards the stone floor as she was guided away. She did not struggle this time but delicate tears balanced on her lower lashes as she was silently led out of the courtroom.

As the large doors closed, the Pharaoh questioned calmly, "Atem, why did you do that? I make the commands, last I checked."

Atem knew his father was not one to yell, and these two sentences were more serious than they seemed. Atem pleaded, "Father, please let me explain."

Akunumkanon sighed but complied, saying, "Yes, son, explain."

Atem began, "I have an interest in Lady Yugi. I plan to pretend to be a servant in the palace and get to know this girl. Since she is blind, she will not know that I am the Prince." Atem gave pause to let this sink in and continued, "I will be her friend and learn about her. Since she cannot see, it can be tested that she is attracted to me not because of my outward appeal but of my charm and personality. If she proves to be a noble woman of character who is not after our money or power or my external appearance, I will marry her. If not, we will send her back home and you may continue to look for a bride for me."

The Pharaoh thought this over carefully. He weighed that this was the only woman that Atem had put so much effort into testing. Perhaps she was, indeed, a woman of character. It would be nicer to have a noble queen instead of a shallow one...

"All right, Atem, I will go along with this plan," Akunumkanon agreed but added, "I hope you know what you are doing."

Atem smiled his first genuine smile of the day and thanked, "Thank you, father. I do know."

He walked out of the court, content. Surely this young girl, if anything, would be more interesting than the other suitors.

Author's Note: I feel better now about this chapter. *content sigh* If you liked what you read, read some more! ;)